If K-State is to have a puncher’s chance against Kentucky in their NCAA Tournament bout, it will need to land some early blows and establish a presence.

“We want to play tough and play hard,” K-State forward Thomas Gipson said. “We want to be the gritty team that does all the little things to help us win.”

K-State’s ruggedness is displayed with its defense.

“We try to guard,” Wildcats coach Bruce Weber said. “We had to find an identity early. We didn’t have much strength or much size inside and we challenged the guys after the early struggles to become a good defensive team.

“In this day and age if you try on defense, everybody says you are physical. I hope we are able to defend them. We’re going to have to fight in the post and limit easy touches in their comfort zone.”

K-State — 20-12 and seeded No. 9 in the Midwest Regional — is looking to spring an upset over No. 8 seed Kentucky (24-10) at 8:40 p.m. Friday at Scottrade Center and atone for last year’s quick exit in its opening game as a No. 4 seed.

“We don’t want that same taste in our mouth as last year,” senior Shane Southwell said. “We were the higher seed and we were the team that everybody thought was going to advance but we lost to La Salle. This time around is a little bit different, but we still don’t want that taste in our mouths.”

Kentucky has been on a roller coaster ride this season with so many freshmen, posting some impressive victories along with some puzzling losses. The Wildcats appear to be back on track after a run to the SEC Tournament final and a one-point loss to Florida.

“We’re playing as well as we have,” UK coach John Calipari said. “We lost it and we got it back.”

Kentucky can take its size advantage to the extreme, playing both of its 7-footers — Dakari Johnson and Willie Cauley-Stein — at the same time.

“I liked it, I really did,” Calipari said of that look. “It is something we’ll go to now because they played so well defensively together against an unbelievable team like Florida.”

K-State would have to withstand that challenge with a team approach, possibly using Gipson and D.J. Johnson together.

“We’ve played against big guys all year,” forward Nino Williams said. “We shouldn’t have a problem. We just have to use our principles and position and we’ll be fine. We’re just going to have to deal with it and fight around the post. We look forward to using our strategy to win.”

Kentucky has the size advantage but knows K-State won’t back down.

“They play a physical game,” Calipari said. “They guard you and they’re not going to beat themselves. Defensively, they’re coming at you. They’re not giving an inch.

“They may not be 7-foot tall but there aren’t many teams in college basketball 7-foot tall. They’re an outstanding team and it’s a very, very tough opening-round game.”

After running the gauntlet of the Big 12 Conference, which put seven teams in the tournament, Weber said K-State will not be scared.

“The big thing our guys have to be focused on is battling and competing,” Weber said. “If we don’t do that, they are going to have their way with us. They have too much talent, ability and size and athleticism so that has to be our mindset.”

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Somebody pull the Bison off the emaw nation! First Bill gets out coached and the team physically handeled, now one of the favorite son hometown heroes gets the same treatment tonight in the first round. Yikes!